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Meath V Cork NFL Div. 2

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Meath v Cork this Sunday in Pairc Ui Rinn. The bookies have Cork as slight favourites which is probably fair given their recent league form against Meath and the fact that the game is at home. On paper it should be fairly balanced with both teams going relatively well and undefeated. Cork had plenty of breathing room against Louth and Offaly. I see that Costello is out which is going to be massive blow given his work rate and scoring ability. However, we did OK without him last season when he was absent and it presents a chance for someone to step in and step up. Has anyone any insight or updates on injuries or returning players? I think the team will remain largely unchanged with the exception of injuries. I hope we can keep the momentum going as the win offers us a wee buffer at the top. I would like to see us with a higher conversion rate from chances created, cut out the sloppy gift scores from frees and maybe try to put the game to bed for once. Cork have super forwards and can kick from anywhere and are a good ball carrying team. One would expect though that Meath will be a real test as Offaly, Cavan and Louth are down the wrong end of table. Heart says Meath, head says Cork by 4 - based on our mid game slumps in the last 2 games. I really hope I'm wrong but time will tell. Royalio11 (Meath) - Posts: 820 - 18/02/2026 20:13:37 2657213 Link
The good news is that Conor Gray is on the way back from his injury and could be fit enough to take a place on the bench for Sunday hopefully and should be fit to play against Kildare as well Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 19/02/2026 09:13:27 2657257 Link
Just imagine if they win. 8 points from 8. Div 1 well in sight. Go and do them lads, and do the same in Newbridge. trimmer (Meath) - Posts: 573 - 19/02/2026 09:36:00 2657262 Link
Hopefully we get someone back from injury (Hickey, Curtis or Gray) and Keogan is fit to play. If not, the bench will be light on experience. We'll have a few experienced guys to come in (O'Connor, O'Neill & Scully) but a lot of relative rookies beyond that. Goes to show the importance of building a deep squad. gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 100 - 19/02/2026 10:42:02 2657278 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "The good news is that Conor Gray is on the way back from his injury and could be fit enough to take a place on the bench for Sunday hopefully and should be fit to play against Kildare as well" Having a fully fit Gray to bring on after 50 mins of Flynn, Menton & McBride would be a big plus. Add Jones into the mix later in the season and we would have the firepower to really stretch teams around the middle. gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 100 - 19/02/2026 10:54:01 2657281 Link
Think this will be a nice indication of where some of our fringe players are. It is going to be a completely different game to the Louth game as there will probably be little physicality and more of a shootout. I think we can get on top and midfield and if we are a little more disciplined we should win. Cork have there fair share of injuries too and while we have quite a lot I think we need to start seeing what lads like Killian Smith, Charlie O' Connor etc can do at this level. It won't be the end of the world if we win, Cork still have to play tyrone and derry and while we have Kildare and Tyrone I would be confident enough that we could still go up. The most important thing is that we get these lads back for the Leinster Champ, imagine what our squad will look like with the introduction of Jonesy, Gray, Curtis, Kinlough and Hickey on our bench. contributingtoamelee (Meath) - Posts: 88 - 19/02/2026 11:47:41 2657292 Link
I'd like to see Martin get a chance, he's a great worker and very strong on the ball he only gor 3 minutes against Cavan and had a hand in both scores. latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 19/02/2026 11:56:54 2657295 Link
Replying To gwanyagudthing: "Having a fully fit Gray to bring on after 50 mins of Flynn, Menton & McBride would be a big plus. Add Jones into the mix later in the season and we would have the firepower to really stretch teams around the middle." Exactly my thoughts. Important to be able to maintain or at least have option to over the full hour and Gray would bring size and aerial dominance needed if Menton or McBride were to tire. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 932 - 19/02/2026 19:36:09 2657366 Link
Costello named to start! Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 20/02/2026 08:40:22 2657398 Link
Anyone heading down to Cork tomorrow night in advance of Sundays game? What's the best gaa pubs in the city. meathgreen (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 20/02/2026 09:09:29 2657401 Link
Replying To meathgreen: "Anyone heading down to Cork tomorrow night in advance of Sundays game? What's the best gaa pubs in the city." Costigans. It's owned by Bracks man. A good few of Meath folk heading there apparently Selwyn (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 20/02/2026 10:02:22 2657410 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "Costello named to start!" Smoke and Mirrors! Selwyn (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 20/02/2026 10:03:55 2657412 Link
Replying To Selwyn: "Smoke and Mirrors!" Apparently bad hamstring injury Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 20/02/2026 10:29:21 2657422 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "Apparently bad hamstring injury" Not a hope he's playing. Cian McBride will be in for him and just a question of who comes on to the bench. Question marks over Keogan as well so we probably will see a few changes. I know it's a big game but if there's any question marks over guys, we shouldn't risk them. Any way, squad depth needs to be developed and let's see if some of the new lads on the bench are upto it. NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 77 - 20/02/2026 11:27:34 2657440 Link
The cookie is back on the 40 RegionalsGuru (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 20/02/2026 12:02:58 2657449 Link
Thats great Gray is on the way back i am a big fan of him wasnt sure if it injury or not been selected. The only concern I would have is Menton Mc Bride Flynn Duke and Possibly Gray although unlikely to be on the pitch all at the same time. Although Mc bride Menton Flynn duke i am pretty were all on together at the same second half v Louth. I am not these boys are mobile enough to defend Against quicker team ? Also we lost all breaking ball second half v louth. I think need more balance in the middle to win breaking ball bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1286 - 20/02/2026 12:10:46 2657452 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "Costello named to start!" Not true, I've heard from reliable sources that he will be missing out on the majority of the league campaign. I think we'll be just fine as Jack O Connor a fellow Curragha man like myself will be well fit to step up to the task. Johnroyalloverdardis (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 20/02/2026 14:13:55 2657481 Link
Replying To Johnroyalloverdardis: "Not true, I've heard from reliable sources that he will be missing out on the majority of the league campaign. I think we'll be just fine as Jack O Connor a fellow Curragha man like myself will be well fit to step up to the task." With all due respect, Jack O'Connor is just back in the panel and will have to regain a lot of sharpness. I think he's realistically a bench option with some pace. Matt Costello is one of our best players and has consistently been for 5/6 years. Let's just hope he isn't out for too long because we'll need him if we're to hit our targets. Conor Duke has bags of potential but looks out of form and we'll see can he regain that. Would love to see Kinlough back in the team and hopefully his recovery is on track. We've seen how important having 4/5 big men around the middle is. So Flynn, Mento, McBride, Duke across there can work. You look at how Kerry utilized that last year with Sean O'Brien, Mark O'Shea and Joe O'Connor who's a midfielder playing at wing forward. Dublins demise has coincided with them losing Fenton and not having massive fielders of the ball. Winning midfield is key with so many kick outs going there and that is obvious but it's no coincidence that McBride is playing out of his skin and we're wining games. NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 77 - 20/02/2026 15:44:55 2657502 Link
50 50 game. Really hope we go for the juggler, pressure is off, guaranteed Championship football and division 2 status. Great opportunity to go and really express ourselves. thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1144 - 20/02/2026 17:24:22 2657527 Link
Replying To Selwyn: "Costigans. It's owned by Bracks man. A good few of Meath folk heading there apparently" Great spot, owned by Colm O Connor, brother of Chris, Juicy o Connor. Really good venue for food and a few pints, thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1144 - 20/02/2026 17:26:06 2657529 Link